Apparatus for removing printing from ampules



May 1962 A. R. LUND 3,031,702

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING PRINTING FROM AMPULES Filed Dec. 17, 1959 "TIIIII/g 32 FIG. 3

FIG. 2.

JNVENTOR.

ALFRED R. LUND a l-MM ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,031,702 APPARATUS FOR REMOVING PRINTING FROM AMPULES Alfred R. Lund, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Smith Kline & French Laboratories, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Dec. 17, 1959, Ser. No. 860,170 1 Claim. (Cl. 15-97) This invention relates to apparatus for removing printing from ampules. In the course of preparing certain drugs in liquid form for marketing it is known to place such drugs in ampules, normally of glass. In order to identify the contents appropriate printing is normally placed on the ampule; Such printing is generally carried out by automatic machinery which can place printing on a large number of ampules in the space of a very short period of time. On occasions it is desired to change the printing on the ampules due to, for example, an error in the printing. It will be obvious that to change the printing the original printing must be removed, an extremely laborious and slow job when necessary for large batches of ampules.

The apparatus of this invention is particularly advantageous for the removal of printing from ampules. It makes such an operation extremely simple and relatively rapid.

The invention will be more fully understood from a reading of the following description in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of apparatus for removing printing from ampules in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 in FIGURE 1.

As shown in the drawings printing removing apparatus 2 in accordance with the invention is provided with a resilient tube 4 of, for example, natural or synthetic rubber. An absorbent liner 6 is secured to the interior of tube 4 by an adhesive indicated at 8. Liner 6 is provided with end-flap portions 12, 14, 16 and 18 which extend outside of tube 4 and are folded back over the exterior end of tube 4 to which they are secured by an adhesive indicated at 19.

Tube 4 is secured on shaft 22 by a pressed fit. Shaft 3,031,702 Patented May 1, 1962 22 is rotated by an electric motor indicated at 24. Motor 24 is provided with a base 26 which is supported by a supporting surface indicated at 28.

While any absorbent fabric such as, for example, a cotton or woolen woven knitted or felted fabric can be employed for the absorbent liner, it is preferred to use a cotton felt.

While not necessary, it is preferred to provide for increased compression at the open end of tube 4 by employing a resilient band wrapped about the outer end of tube 4. -As shown in the drawings a pair of rubber bands 30 are wrapped around flaps 12, 14, 16 and 18 adjacent the outer end of tube 4.

The operation of the apparatus 2 is illustrated in FIG- URE 3. While shaft 22 is being rotated by motor 24, the body end of the ampule is inserted into tube 4 so as to be engaged by liner 6, the diameter of tube 4 having been selected so as to compress liner 6 against ampule 32. While ampule 32 is being held against rotation, the liner 6 abrades and absorbs the ink imprinted on the ampule as indicated at 34. When rubber bands 30 are employed ampule 32 can be moved axially so as to cause the printing to be engaged by the portion of liner 6 subjected to the additional compressing force exerted by the bands 30 to remove the most diflicultly removable printing.

In a matter of a few seconds the printing is removed and the ampule 32 can be Withdrawn. It will be apparent that this operation is efi'icient and rapid.

It is not desired to be limited except as set forth in the following claim.

What is claimed is:

Apparatus for removing printing from ampules comprising a resilient tube, said tube having an inner surface and an outer surface, an absorbent fabric liner adhesively secured to said inner surface of said tube and adapted to engage an ampule, and means to continuously and fully rotate said tube on its axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,694,636 Barker Dec. 11, 1928 2,424,509 Singer July 22, 1947 2,593,735 Delzell Apr. 22, 1952 2,713,693 Johnson July 26, 1955 2,732,987 Moore Jan. 31, 1956 

